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		<H2><A NAME="HDRVFM" ></A>9.2 Loading and Using Outboard and Runtime-Loadable Modules
</H2>
		<A NAME="IDX869"></A><A NAME="IDX870"></A>
<A NAME="IDX871"></A>
<A NAME="IDX872"></A>
<P>
Data Explorer allows the following types of user-written module:
<TABLE CELLPADDING="3">
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><P><B><TT><STRONG>inboard</STRONG></TT>
</B></TD><TD><P>modules are compiled and linked
into the Data Explorer Executive.
</TD></TR><TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><P><B><TT><STRONG>outboard</STRONG></TT>
</B></TD><TD><P>modules are run as separate processes.
</TD></TR><TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><P><B><TT><STRONG>runtime-loadable</STRONG></TT>
</B></TD><TD><P>modules are loaded at runtime and effectively become inboard
modules.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
<P>
For an outboard or runtime-loadable to be available for use, its module
description file must be loaded into the tool palette.
To load a module description file&#58;
<OL COMPACT>
<LI>Select the <TT><STRONG>Load Modules Description(s)...</STRONG></TT>
option from
the <TT><STRONG>File</STRONG></TT> pull-down menu in the VPE.
A file selection dialog box appears.
For information about how to use the dialog box, see
<A HREF="usrgu041.htm#HDRFSBOX">"File Selection Dialog Boxes"</A>.
<LI>Use the dialog box to locate the description file for the
module you want to load, and select the desired file.
The module name appears on the tool palette under its assigned
category.
<TABLE><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP"><B>Note:</B></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT"
VALIGN="TOP">If the module description you loaded has the same name as
an module description loaded previously, the more
recent description replaces the less recent,
regardless of whether they were assigned to the
same category.
</td></tr></table>
</OL>
<P>
When the new module is available for use, it is listed in the tool
palette as a member of the category you assigned it to.
<P>
You can configure Data Explorer to automatically load module
descriptions when you begin the Data Explorer program.
To do this, use the <TT>-mdf <VAR>filename</VAR></TT> option when
starting Data Explorer, where <TT><VAR>filename</VAR></TT> specifies
one or more module definitions.
Alternatively, you can use the <VAR>DXMDF</VAR> environment
variable.
For more information on how to do this, see <A
HREF="usrgu036.htm#HDRENVAR">"Using Environment Variables"</A> and
<A HREF="usrgu073.htm#HDRENVVAR">C.1 , "Environment Variables"</A>.

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